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Topic: Books for Converts (Read 3212 times)

I recently read The Orthodox Church by Metropolitan Kallistos. I really enjoyed it.

Because I am on a journey for the Truth and because I wanted to hear both sides, I decided to follow up my reading of Metropolitan Kallistos' book with a Catholic equivalent. I chose Triumph by H. W. Crocker III. Unfortunately, I can't even get through it. Even though it is meant to be a pro-Catholic book, I find it hard to stomach.

At any rate, I want to read another book on the ancient Church from the Eastern Orthodox point of view.

THere have been many threads already devoted to convert reading lists. May I suggest a search through the site?

However, it seems you are looking for something more historical than doctrinal truths? I would suggest that you find a copy of Jarsolav Pelikan's second volume of the Christian Tradition entitled The Spirit of Eastern Christendom (600-1700). It will get into a lot of the issues that teh early church wrestled with particularly in the east. The late Dr. Pelikan was a convert to Orthodoxy from Lutheranism and a great scholar. It is dense reading, but well worth the effort.

Look forward to hearing more from you.

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I seek the truth by which no man was ever harmed--Marcus Aurelius

Those who do not read history are doomed to get their facts from Hollywood--Anonymous

If you're looking for more on the theological side of things, there is always The Orthodox Way by Met. Kallistos. And for something else that is a condensed version of Church history, you could look into The Historical Road of Eastern Orthodoxy by Alexander Schmemann. I would also second the suggestion of scamandrius regarding The Christian Tradition by Jaroslav Pelikan (especially the first two volumes).

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"Christian America is finally waking up to what fraternities and biker gangs have known for years: hazing works!"

THere have been many threads already devoted to convert reading lists. May I suggest a search through the site?

However, it seems you are looking for something more historical than doctrinal truths?

scamandrius,Thank you. Yes, I have searched through the forums and have found lots of suggestions, but its like being a kid in a candy store. So I was hoping to refine my results a little by asking for some specifically historical books as you gleaned.

I will definitely put The Spirit of Eastern Christendom (600-1700) on my wish list. Thank you.

If you're looking for more on the theological side of things, there is always The Orthodox Way by Met. Kallistos. And for something else that is a condensed version of Church history, you could look into The Historical Road of Eastern Orthodoxy by Alexander Schmemann. I would also second the suggestion of scamandrius regarding The Christian Tradition by Jaroslav Pelikan (especially the first two volumes).

Asteriktos,Thank you. Met. Kallistos' The Orthodox Way sounds like a good next step since I'm already familiar with his writing and enjoy it. I'll be putting The Historical Road of Eastern Orthodoxy on my wish list as well.

If you're looking for more on the theological side of things, there is always The Orthodox Way by Met. Kallistos. And for something else that is a condensed version of Church history, you could look into The Historical Road of Eastern Orthodoxy by Alexander Schmemann. I would also second the suggestion of scamandrius regarding The Christian Tradition by Jaroslav Pelikan (especially the first two volumes).

I'd agree with you and Scamandrius, although I don't know about all y'all, but I thought it was pretty scholarly (read: dry). No offense to all y'all scholarly types.

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If you will, you can become all flame.Extra caritatem nulla salus.In order to become whole, take the "I" out of "holiness". सर्वभूतहितἌνω σχῶμεν τὰς καρδίας"Those who say religion has nothing to do with politics do not know what religion is." -- Mohandas GandhiY dduw bo'r diolch.

I recently read The Orthodox Church by Metropolitan Kallistos. I really enjoyed it.

Because I am on a journey for the Truth and because I wanted to hear both sides, I decided to follow up my reading of Metropolitan Kallistos' book with a Catholic equivalent. I chose Triumph by H. W. Crocker III. Unfortunately, I can't even get through it. Even though it is meant to be a pro-Catholic book, I find it hard to stomach.

At any rate, I want to read another book on the ancient Church from the Eastern Orthodox point of view.

At any rate, I want to read another book on the ancient Church from the Eastern Orthodox point of view.

First, let me reiterate what others have said: The Orthodox Way by Ware is definitely the next book you should read. No doubt that you will enjoy it and benefit from it (spiritually, as well as intellectually).

1. The collected works of the so-called Apostolic Fathers (e.g. St. Ignatius, Clement of Rome, the Martyrdom of Polycarp, the Didache, etc.) and

2. The Sayings of the Desert Fathers (trans. Benedicta Ward).

With two of Met. Kallistos' books under you'll belt, you'll absolutely love reading some primary sources.

If you are looking for something written by a Catholic, you should check out The Spirit of Early Christian Thought: Seeking the Face of God by Robert Wilken. Truly a great book, on the level of both of Met. Kallistos'. Of course, everything Wilken writes could just as easily been written by an Orthodox, so I wouldn't say there's anything unusually Roman about it (aside, perhaps, from his love of Augustine).

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But for I am a man not textueel I wol noght telle of textes neuer a deel. (Chaucer, The Manciple's Tale, 1.131)

Thank you everyone. I have about six of your recommendations on hold at the library. But by all means, if you have more suggestions, please feel free to make them. I'll need something to read after I'm done with this.

You know how it is on a cold winter night and you climb in bed under the covers and you sort of shiver off the cold for a minute. The longer you stay under the covers the more comfortable you feel. That’s kind of how these books are making me feel.

The RC books I’ve read have had a tendency to feel very analytical and cold. The EO books however feel very warm and inviting. They seem to touch my heart more so than my mind. I guess they probably all can’t be this good, but I’ve read a string of great ones so far.

You've read the first two I'd have recommended to most people, Sparrow. :-) I'd like to recommend Fr. Alexander Schmemann's work next. He's written a number of wonderful books: theological, historical, and devotional. One that inquirers often find helpful and worthwhile is "For the Life of the World". I'll second whoever recommended "The Historical Road of Eastern Orthodoxy", which is an excellent introduction to the history of the Eastern Christian church. I've reread his devotional book, "Great Lent," several times during Great Lent. A bit further into your search, when you're ready for something truly wonderful on many levels, you should read Schmemann's very best work, "The Eucharist." When you're ready for something with real philosophical and intellectual meat, try Christos Yannaras' "The Freedom of Morality." It will stretch your brain, but is IMHO an excellent book for many seekers to read nonetheless.

I'll second Scamandrius's comment on Fr. Vladimir Lossky's "Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church" unless you have a fairly extensive theological background and taste for meaty works with philosophical, as well as theological, depth. It's a *wonderful* book, don't get me wrong, but it's also tough going for most people who are new to Orthodox Christianity.

You've read the first two I'd have recommended to most people, Sparrow. :-) I'd like to recommend Fr. Alexander Schmemann's work next. He's written a number of wonderful books: theological, historical, and devotional. One that inquirers often find helpful and worthwhile is "For the Life of the World". I'll second whoever recommended "The Historical Road of Eastern Orthodoxy", which is an excellent introduction to the history of the Eastern Christian church. I've reread his devotional book, "Great Lent," several times during Great Lent. A bit further into your search, when you're ready for something truly wonderful on many levels, you should read Schmemann's very best work, "The Eucharist." When you're ready for something with real philosophical and intellectual meat, try Christos Yannaras' "The Freedom of Morality." It will stretch your brain, but is IMHO an excellent book for many seekers to read nonetheless.

I'll second Scamandrius's comment on Fr. Vladimir Lossky's "Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church" unless you have a fairly extensive theological background and taste for meaty works with philosophical, as well as theological, depth. It's a *wonderful* book, don't get me wrong, but it's also tough going for most people who are new to Orthodox Christianity.

Thank you for the suggestions Sakeneko. I will add them to my list. I'm really enjoying The Historical Road of Eastern Orthodoxy. It's a great foil to Triumph: The Power and the Glory of the Catholic Church: A 2,000-Year History.